The Gombe State Police Command confirmed on Thursday that two suspects, Bashir Haruna and Mohammed Isah, have been arrested. They were apprehended for criminal conspiracy and adulteration of food items, particularly rice.
In a press statement issued by the Deputy Public Relations Officer, ASP Sharif Sa’ad, it was revealed that the suspects intentionally mixed approximately 57 bags of rice with chaff. The police acted on credible intelligence, leading to the arrest of the suspects for deceiving unsuspecting members of the public.
Sa’ad stated, “On 24th February 2024, at about 11:00 am, policemen from Akko Division, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted and arrested the above-mentioned suspects in possession of 57 bags of mixed chaff, i.e., rice and chaff, with the intent to deceive the public and sell it as rice at market price. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to mixing several bags containing this mixture and selling them. The suspects have since been charged to court.”
In response to this concerning development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hayatu Usman, advised the public to exercise caution and vigilance when purchasing grains in sacks to avoid falling victim to such fraudulent activities.
“The command assures all the peace-loving people of Gombe State that the police will continue to strive for better service delivery in the performance of its constitutional responsibilities of the protection of lives and properties, maintenance of law and order, and investigation and prosecution of offenders,” Sa’ad concluded.